This month, members of Lakewood’s youth volunteer program, H2O “Help to Others,” have been busy giving back while having fun! The kids at Garfield and Harding middle schools, along with the kids from Lakewood Catholic Academy and H2O high school members, have been working diligently on two new big projects.

The first project H2O members are helping with is the “Warm Up America” campaign. This campaign, sponsored locally by Pat Catan’s, involves making afghan blankets from 7”x9” knitted or crocheted squares collected by Pat Catan’s Craft store on Berea Rd. H2O middle and high school members are helping by sewing the donated squares together.

Emma Razum, a middle school leader with H2O who assisted the kids from Garfield as they pieced the collected squares together commented, “The kids were really excited to work on the project by giving back and helping in any way that they could.” She continued by saying, “It was the favorite part of their day."

In the Spring of 2009, after collecting hundreds of signatures of support, a group of concerned Lakewood residents formed the Citizens Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Parks. The Citizens Committee has been working with Lakewood City Council in the development of a new ordinance that would allow families and individuals with dogs to utilize the paved paths within Lakewood city parks while protecting the cleanliness and order of our city parks.

I was always a big fan of comic books, and I lived for the Saturday morning cartoon superheroes. Back before all the cable stations fulfilled every kids desire for 24 hour, 7 day a week access to animated action, suspense and thrilling feats of bravery and heroism, I would look forward to my once weekly chance to see my own personal heroes take action. Thirty years later, that sense of wonder and awe was re-awakened, as this past weekend, I not only got to see a person fight the good fight I got to spend time with them in person.

Forty six years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his "I have a dream" speech in Washington D.C. On Monday, January 18th, Lakewood students from several area high schools were invited to carry on the dream during a day of service with H2O. We volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and at sites all over Lakewood. At St. James Childcare, Ronald McDonald House and Lakewood Hospital Childcare, students cleaned and sanitized toys. Those at the Hospice of the Western Reserve made books to help patients with dementia. At the Crestmont Nursing Facility, students helped make bookmarks that were to be donated to the Lakewood Public Library. Students were a huge help at the Lakewood Public Library by sprucing up the library and alphabetizing books. At Lakewood Alive, students made Valentines cards for the soldiers overseas. After the volunteering, students went back to the Women's Pavilion for a luncheon. There we met up with Lakewood High's Race and Diversity Club, who presented a short film about Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.

The sidewalks clear,

no winter here;

no tricky footwork needed

on this walk through the 'Wood.

So grateful, I,

my heart breathes a sigh,

"Thank you, my neighbors,

how precious you are, how good." 

Here at the Lakewood Observer, we leave the editorializing up to the community. We want the content to come from you, so we tend to just stay behind the scenes to make sure there is a paper every two weeks. The LO is designed to be a tool of community empowerment and our goal is to help anyone in the community to get their words into print. The paper exists to serve and inform Lakewoodites about their community- a noble cause to be sure (or at least we think so). But on Thursday, January 21st, 2010, an event transpired that threatens to alter the face of media across the country, a change so enormous, I can not even begin to understate the importance of civic journalism as we attempt to preserve some semblance of our democracy. This is not just a shameless plug to entice you to share your stories with the community by writing for the paper (although, I do highly encourage you to do so). Rather, I write to argue that we have hit a serious roadblock on the path to a more just, open, truly representative political process in this country and that you hold the key to defending and overcoming the newly unleashed, legalized version of corporately funded politicians with financially driven policy agendas.

Noah had nothing on the youth of Lakewood Presbyterian Church.  It did take them the better part of a year, but they came up with a whole ark of animals to be delivered to families in need via the Heifer Project.  Each animal will raise the family’s standard of living and offspring will be given to other families, benefiting the entire community.  

At a press conference on December 17th, 2009, Mayor Ed FitzGerald announced his candidacy for the newly formed position of County Executive for Cuyahoga County. With his family beside him, FitzGerald spoke of the problems of the past saying, "At precisely the time when we needed our county government to be at its best, it's most dynamic, it's most innovative, it's most effective, it has been paralyzed by the worst public corruption scandal in our county's history." The tone turned to the promise of the future, as he continued, "As County Executive, I will use this combined experience in law enforcement and as a chief executive to overhaul county government and restore the people's confidence that county government can be operated with integrity, will provide the services it must to those in need, and act as a catalyst so that the economy of Cuyahoga County embraces the shift to the new economic growth sectors in medicine, biotechnology, clean and green energy, and arts and culture."

Headquarters for the Ed FitzGerald County Executive 2010 campaign can be found at 1836 West 25th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113, near the West Side Market.

It was just another day in the heart of Greater Cleveland’s thriving scientific research community, but for a group of Lakewood Catholic Academy sixth graders, it may have been a life changer.

The City's youth volunteer program, H2O – Help to Others, held its first annual "Trees and Trimmings" event and it was a huge success! We sent out flyers in holiday food baskets that were delivered to Lakewood homes at Thanksgiving and we had 17 families contact H2O hoping their names would be drawn to win a Christmas tree because they didn’t have one. The responses came from all kinds of families and we were worried that we would not have enough trees.  

This economy is taking a toll on small business owners across the country. Yet amazingly, the number of new business start-ups and franchise ownership remains strong. With limited job options and an unprecedented string of downsizings and layoffs, displaced workers are choosing self-employment in an effort to take charge of their career. Small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs simply cannot afford to fail.

In a new book by Diane Helbig, small business owners learn how to effectively sell their product or service to ensure they will succeed in any economy. In her book, Lemonade Stand Simple: Accelerate Your Small Business Growth, Helbig teaches small business owners, franchisees or anyone considering starting up a business how to avoid the pitfalls so many business owners make.

One of the best ways to support Lakewood is by patronizing local businesses.  Although national chains may have a larger array of diverse items in one location, you won’t always get a better buy at a big box store.  Small independents often survive because they offer competitive prices and outstanding customer service.  Besides, just like the television series "Cheers", isn’t it great to go where everybody knows your name?  The owners are often on-site and personally invested in accommodating your needs.

            Local businesses can adjust to their specific market.  Tina Dolatowski, owner of Lion and Blue, works to track down an item a customer requests.  When she knows something is in demand in Lakewood, she adds it to her stock.

Rozi’s Wine House, in its 70th year serving Lakewood and beyond, has recently unveiled their latest Gift Basket Catalog, containing more than 50 specialized gourmet baskets that are ideal gifts for corporate or personal giving. Inside the brick-and-mortar are more than 150 gift ideas that fit any client, friend or family member. All gifts can be personalized and customized to fit your needs. They even offer delivery worldwide!

Rozi’s gift baskets have a wide range of contents including wine, beer, fruit, cheese, and gourmet foods. Items can be added or deleted to the baskets at your request, to ensure your recipient is receiving the ideal gift for them.

Would you like to really brighten a Lakewood family’s Christmas this year? The City’s youth volunteer program, H2O (Help To Others), is hosting its first ever “Trees & Trimmings” holiday collection. We need your help. H2O members are collecting Christmas ornaments, lights and artificial trees to give away. If you have items to spare, your gently used/or new holiday decorations are sure to brighten the season for seniors, families, and all who receive them!  H2O will draw as many names of families in need from agency referrals as we have trees to give away. On Sunday, December 6th from noon – 3pm, H2O members will be in front of Lakewood High School near the Civic Auditorium to accept community donations. 

While you’re getting out your decorations, why not join H2O in the holiday spirit by sharing with others? Thanks for helping H2O give the gift of “Trees & Trimmings” to as many neighbors in need as possible! 

Ask any Cleveland West Road Runners Club (CWWRC) member who gathers at wintry dusk on Thursdays at Lakewood Park what the group is about, and he or she will likely tell you it’s a social club built by people who love to run. 

Lakewood resident John Paull, a Cleveland West member since 1995, put it this way: “I’ve met some of my best friends through the club. You can’t beat it!”

Built from scratch by a few friends training for a marathon, Cleveland West has segued into an enduring social organization whose members embrace walking, running and racing at all levels.

The club’s origin hails back to the mid-1970s when Jess Bell, former chief executive officer of Lakewood-based Bonne Bell Inc.; Steve Gladis, a now-retired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent; and a few others ran in the Rocky River Metropark on Saturday mornings. The group decided to train for the Heartwatchers Marathon, a 26.2-mile course that extended from Bowling Green State University to the University of Toledo.

Gladis, who had run with an early-morning group while stationed with the FBI in Monterey, CA, set the 7:30 a.m. Saturday run meeting time – the same ritual Cleveland West runners adhere to today.

Celebrate the holiday season with a beautiful, handcrafted wreath! Each twenty-four inch wreath is adorned with a red and silver bow and three glittering snowflakes. The wreaths will bring long-lasting pleasure throughout the holiday season. Sales support the educational mission of the Lakewood Historical Society.

Order your wreath by November 27 by calling 216-221-7343 or visiting www.lakewoodmuseumstore.com.  Wreaths can also be purchased, while supplies last, at the Skate House in Lakewood Park on Wednesday, Dec 2 and Thursday, December 3. 

The never-ending battle over the Lakewood Dog Park has once again reared its ugly head. For those of you who thought the lawsuit had gone away, it hasn’t. For those of you who do not know about the fight, allow me to bring you up to date.

At the end of the evening on November 3rd, 2009, Lakewood’s general election results bring together a largely familiar cast of characters in Lakewood politics. The one outlier of the day, Monique Smith, will hold one of three At-Large City Council seats, beating out former Ward 2 council person, Ryan Patrick Demro in a closely contested race. Smith will be join Nickie Antonio and Brian Powers, both of whom retain their current seats on council, with Antonio coming in as the top vote getter of the six candidates. Coming up short were the remaining three candidates Ryan Patrick Demro, Daniel Shields, and newcomer Jared Shapiro; each candidate received 5229, 3789, and 1984 votes, respectively. At large council seats are held for four years and, unlike ward specific council members, serve the entire geographic area of the City of Lakewood.

On October 4th, former Cleveland Cliffs Captain and Lakewood resident, "Heavy Weather" Harry Anderson, celebrated his 100th birthday at a gala bash private party at the Inland Seas Maritime Museum in Vermilion, Ohio. On hand were many well-wishers, as well as the extended Anderson family.

Excessive sugar intake can lead to a host of health problems like heart disease, diabetes and obesity, to name a few. Clevelanders are no exception as we lead the state in diabetes Type II, especially as it pertains to overweight diabetics. 
As reported on September 29 by Harlon Spector of the Plain Dealer, the staggering daily intake of added sugar is almost one-half cup per person.

For Halloween, one local personal trainer and family fitness specialist is teaching families a way to incorporate some extra calorie-burning instead of excess candy eating.  She is holding a family workout with pumpkins on Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. 

Named the “Training by Liz Family Pumpkin Workout,” Liz Donnelly, owner of Training by Liz and herself a single mother of three, will lead parents and kids in exercises using pumpkins.  Donnelly says she is eager to get families moving and having fun together.  “It’s time for families to discard the notion that sugar consumption is the purpose of Halloween. If we ever are to combat obesity, weak immune systems and inactivity, why not make family fitness part of this holiday?” remarks Donnelly.

The event will take place at the Lakewood Congregational Church on Saturday, October 24 from 10-11 a.m. Families are asked to bring their own pumpkins or purchase them on-site.  After the pumpkin workout, kids will be able to make their own craft with their pumpkins.  Families pay $5 to attend and can contact info@trainingbyliz.com or 440-623-0957 to register.

Liz Donnelly is the Owner and Personal Trainer, Family Fitness Specialist for Training by Liz, LLC and can be reached for comment at info@trainingbyliz.com.  She also runs a family fitness blog at http://FamilyFitnessGuru.com.  Liz is a proud member of the International Youth Conditioning Association, National Association of Professional Women, Lakewood Early Childhood PTA, Holistic Moms Network and Junior Women’s Club of Lakewood.

THE VOTER’S GUIDE 2009

Cool weather, changing leaves, earlier nights, this could only mean one thing, Pumpkin Palooza is on its way! 

That’s right, the 10th annual Pumpkin Palooza will be held on Sunday, October 25th from 1-4pm! This awesome fall celebration takes place at Lakewood High School, in the L Room, East Gym and East Cafeteria. Come prepared for a hauntingly good time!

Pumpkin Palooza features indoor carnival games, kid’s crafts, a “Haunted Hallway,” a crawl through maze, and much more. Almost all games and activities are only 1 ticket, or 25 cents. Make sure you and your kids are dressed appropriately for the costume parade! It’s a free event and tons of fun for everyone! Spooky fun stories in “Sleepy Hollow” are also free. The Horace Mann Elementary School Choir is scheduled to give a special Halloween performance at 1:15 in the E. Gym, so don’t be late!

 

There are green gems throughout the City of Lakewood. I discovered one when a friend  introduced me to Lilly Murphy. While Lilly herself is a gem, in this case I am talking about her backyard. The yard is a model of sustainability, including a flower garden, compost herb garden, goldfish pond, compost pile and triple rain barrel system!

There are times when going to a football game is about more than the game. When you stop to think about it, there is an incredible amount of “stuff” that’s involved in this quintessential American rite, the Friday night football game at Lakewood High School. You think about all the kids who are putting everything they have on the line. Not only the players on the gridiron, but the musicians, cheering squad, and all the other kids who help out. You think about the other team as well, strangers in a strange land, mustering their best to look sharp and win the night. There are little kids who dream of being out there some day, and big kids who wish they had stuck it out last year, perhaps vowing to try again next year.  And of course there are parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends, all hoping, praying even, for victory, and that perhaps the evening breeze will somehow float the band’s music just right over them. In their faces you see the joy – and struggle - of providing all they can for their kids to prevail, to overcome the odds, to succeed. There is wonder, a little panic, awe, and thankfulness for a game well played, a performance well done. On Friday nights you get to see how a community works. Coaches, teachers, fans and followers, parents and whole families encouraging and teaching perseverance, goal setting, resilience, teamwork, hard work, self awareness, and courage – you get to experience all of it on Friday nights at Ranger stadium.

As long-time residents, my husband Henry Hilow and I stood to lower our overwhelming utility bills by 30%-50% after performing a Home Diagnostic Test and following through with insulation and weatherization steps. After living for 8 years in a sweet little home on Lakeland, we took a chance 15 years ago when we moved to the “money pit” on the east end of town. Since then, we have raised five children in this sprawling mansion and along with family and friends have celebrated life in this wonderful home and never looked back, until now.   

Lakewood resident Eva Weissman is celebrating two significant milestones: the completion of her book, “The War Came to Me”, to be released on October 28, co-authored with Dr. Gregory Moore (associate professor of history and political science at Notre Dame College in Cleveland) and being honored with the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) Lifetime Achievement Award during its Los Angeles gala on August 20 of this year. 

Weissman, a survivor of the Holocaust, escaped from Vienna, Austria to the Netherlands in 1939. With the help of a family that removed her from danger, she avoided arrest and acted as a courier in the Dutch Resistance until the end of the Nazi occupation. Her book tells the story of the courageous and compassionate Dutch citizens who helped her and her sister, Ruth, avoid deportation to the death camps. They endured years of separation from their parents and each other before the family was eventually reunited. After World War II, Weissman moved to the United States where she has devoted her life to working with nonprofit organizations.

H2O Summer Service camp wrapped up its summer season with a bountiful harvest.  200 Lakewood middle school youth spent part of their summer learning that helping others is rewarding and fun.  Over 4,000 hours of service were given to the Lakewood community and greater Cleveland area.  The successful results of the camp are seen through the increased self-confidence in the youth and the ownership to “make a difference” in their community. 

Support your local economy, eat wings.

Lakewood, Oh, Aug 7, 2009:  Few can argue the merits of supporting a local economy when all that is asked is that you visit a bar, eat wings, and have a drink.  For the 4th year running, Lakewood’s favorite establishments are pulling together to answer the question, “who has the best wings in Lakewood?”  On Saturday, August 22nd from 1pm to 7pm, those who have purchased a VIP pass can stop into any participating location and receive a basket of 6 wings. Each basket will include 3 buffalo style and 3 open flavored wings.  These two sauces will be chosen by the establishment to be entered into the competition.  At 7 o’clock our guests will cast their ballots to vote for their favorites.  Starting this year, the public will also have the opportunity to write a brief review describing what they liked best.

Fourth of July gatherings usually bring together family and friends for lots of fun and, of course, food. Our family get-together last year was no different, but it brought about a life-style change for me. My niece took a picture of me there; when I saw it, I was mortified.  I had no idea I looked like that.  After puzzling over what to do about it, my place of employment inadvertently intervened by sending me a coupon for Jazzercise through an employee perks program.  I went to the Jazzercise website (www.jazzercise.com) and located Karen Kilbane's class in Lakewood.  I signed up and what an eye opener this past year has been!

One of Lakewood’s greatest assets is often heralded as its idea location, close to the action of downtown (and even the near east side), and yet only minutes away from the retail mecca of the western suburbs. True, this centralized, easy access to the plazas, strip malls, indoor shopping malls, and the new urbanism “life-style centers” (i.e. Crocker Park, which ironically enough, as you have undoubtedly noticed, simply seeks to artificially recreate the “live-work” retail layout that dominates in Lakewood) has a certain appeal.

The Busy Bee Auxiliary of Ann Rutledge Chapter No. 453 of Ohio Eastern Star (a non-profit, charitable organization) will host its third annual "TRINKETS and TREASURES" BAZAAR and OPEN HOUSE at the LAKEWOOD MASONIC TEMPLE on SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.  The temple is located at 15300 Detroit Avenue -- at the far west end of the Lakewood Arts Festival.  The event will take place rain or shine, as it's all inside.

Often Christmas time brings out acts of charity and great support to those in need.  Even though the snow is long since gone (thank heaven) many families in Lakewood are still in want.  Lakewood Christian Service Center (LCSC) exists to help those who cannot find the means to feed, clothe, or support their households.  In the month of May alone, over 1,100 local families received some kind of free support from LCSC.

Councilman Tom Bullock proposed an ordinance to Lakewood City Council allowing leashed dogs to walk with their responsible owners in all Lakewood Parks at the June 15, 2009 council meeting. The proposed ordinance is in its first reading and has been referred to the Public Works Committee.

The Citizens Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Parks is asking all residents that support this initiative to encourage your elected officials that it is time to allow leashed dogs in our publicly funded parks. You can find contact information for Council members at www.leasheddogsinlakewoodparks.com or at the main City of Lakewood website. The next council meeting is July 6, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at city hall.

The Lakewood community, and many communities surrounding Lakewood, came out in droves on Saturday, June 6th for the Fourth Annual "Meet The Trucks" event at Lakewood Park.  This year's event, presented annually by Lakewood Early Childhood PTA (LECPTA) and the City of Lakewood, was a full on community festival with bouncy houses, entertainment by community members, including Emerson Unicycle Club and the St. Edwards High School Trash Talkers, fair food, face painting, and of course, the stars of the day, the trucks.    

H2O Summer Service Camp: 15 years. 60 camp sessions. 540 camp days. 2,500 campers. 90,000 hours of service given to the NE Ohio Community. Activism and leadership's effects on a ‘tween…Priceless!

Lakewood’s H2O (“Help To Others”) Summer Service Camp kicks off another year of camp this week. The camp is a uniquely designed service learning program offered to 11–14 year old residents of Lakewood, Ohio. The mission of H2O Summer Service Camp is to strengthen and enrich Lakewood and the greater Cleveland area by engaging its youth as community builders.  Through H2O Camp, middle school students are encouraged to become “action architects”, designing and implementing solutions to community needs. Using a wide range of daily activities, Lakewood’s middle school youth are exposed to social responsibility and civic learning.  

In Lakewood there is a beautiful, caring and intelligent woman, who has been selflessly helping immigrants and politicians alike connect to a creative and inclusive vision of a city’s multi-cultural dance. The woman inviting all to dance in service to the Lakewood life stream is, of course, Anila Nicklos.

As a member of the Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission, I am excited to share with you an upcoming event that we have worked to bring to the Westshore Community on March 26: a Community Conversation presented by Facing History and Ourselves and The Allstate Foundation. Pulitzer Prize winning author, Sonia Nazario, will discuss her book Enrique’s Journey. This book recounts the story of a young Honduran boy who braves unimaginable hardship to reach his mother in the United States. It is a story of modern immigration that will surely spur much thought and conversation.

On March 28, 2009, The World Wildlife Foundation’s Earth Hour event will be taking place all around the world. Every individual and business across the planet is encouraged to participate in this event. By simply unplugging all unneeded appliances and turning household lights out from 8:30-9:30 pm, participants will be aiding in the fight against global warming and encouraging green habits all year round.

In celebration of Earth Hour, Lakewood’s youth volunteer program, H2O – Help to Others - is hosting “EFFIE”, an "Eco-Friendly Footprint Event” at Lakewood Park on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 8:00-9:30 pm. The event is designed to show support for Earth Hour’s global effort and encourage people to adopt green habits that will reduce their carbon footprint on our planet. From 8:00-8:30pm, attendees will be able to browse through displays provided by local businesses and organizations including: Green Smart Gifts, LEAF and Keep Lakewood Beautiful. At 8:30 when the lights go out in the Women’s Pavilion, there will be outdoor attractions to encourage movement, imagination and fun. Scheduled activities include: telescopic stargazing, an acoustic guitar sing-along, flashlight storytelling, glow-in-the-dark frisbee, pathwinding walks and twilight tai chi. H2O encourages everyone to join Earth Hour’s world wide event by dedicating just one hour to darkening our city and changing the effects of global warming on our planet. “Turn out, Take Action” and be sure to check out www.earthhour.org.

Hosting the Regional Power of the Pen tournament for the first time, Garfield Middle School buzzed with eager writers on Saturday, February 28 for the competition unique to the state of Ohio. 

Brimming with latent enthusiasm, the Garfield Power of the Pen team waited for the competition to begin.